India Among World's 3 Emerging Arms Producers, HAL In Top 100: Report

India Among World's 3 Emerging Arms Producers, HAL In Top 100: Report

US firm Lockheed Martin remained the largest arms producer in the world, with arms sales of $44.9 billion in 2017 — an increase of 8.3 per cent compared with 2016.

“The increase was mainly due to ongoing deliveries of F-35 combat aircraft, missiles and anti-missile systems, and Aegis naval combat systems,” the report states, adding that the growth in Lockheed Martin’s arms sales and the 11 per cent drop in those of Boeing widened the gap between the top two arms producers to $18.0 billion in 2017.

“The fall in Boeing’s arms sales can be partially attributed to delays in the delivery of KC-46 tanker aircraft and the end of deliveries of C-17 transport aircraft,” it states.

Russia has been ranked as the second largest arms producer. At $37.8 billion in combined arms sales, Russian firms accounted for 9.5 per cent of the total trade in 2017, the report says.

The Russian company Almaz-Antey, ranked 10, is the first company based outside the USA or Western Europe to figure in the top 10.

As per the report, BAE Systems, which is ranked fourth in the Top 100, remains the UK’s biggest arms producer. Its arms sales rose by 3.3 per cent, to $22.9 billion in 2017.

Dassault Sales Up

As per the report, the total arms sales of the six French companies in the Top 100 rose by 11 per cent, to $21.3 billion in 2017.

“While all six companies increased their arms sales in 2017, the significant growth in the arms sales of the combat aircraft producer Dassault and the shipbuilder Naval Group stand out,” the report states. “Dassault’s arms sales grew by 48 per cent, to $2.1 billion in 2017, due in large part to contracts with India and Qatar for combat aircraft.”

Overall Arms Sales On The Rise

As per the report, arms sales of the world’s 100 largest arms-producing and military service companies amounts to $398.2 billion in 2017, with the 10 largest accounting for $198.2 billion or 50 per cent of the trade.

This was an increase of 2.5 per cent compared with 2016 and marks the third consecutive year of growth in Top 100 arms sales. The figures exclude China.

As per the report, five US and four West European companies occupied the top nine positions in 2017, with Russian company Almaz-Antey making up the top 10.

The overall growth in arms sales of the Top 100 in 2017 was driven by an increase in arms procurement spending by several states, in particular the United States and Russia, the report states.

Arms sales here include sales of military goods and services to military customers domestically and abroad. The report states that companies based in the USA and Western Europe continued to dominate the Top 100 in 2017 and their combined arms sales accounted for 81 per cent of Top 100 arms sales in 2017.